June 02, 2021
Boost for marae justice panels
The Pae Oranga system of iwi community panels to deal with low level offending is to be extended.
At Hopuhopu this morning, Police Minister Poto Williams announced $70 million more for the programme, which will fund an additional 12 panels including nine new rangatahi panels as well as 35 full time equivalent positions within Police.
Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha says police have been working for five years with iwi and Māori providers to brining tikanga Māori restorative justice practices into the justice system to make it more humane and responsive.
He says internationally peer-reviewed evaluation have shown a 22 percent reduction in harm from reoffending.
"Regardless of your culture, your gender, your age, your social position, your financial position, it's a programme that is there for everyone. We have had people of all different ethnicities coming through the maraes, panel members who are experienced, some of our kaumātua sitting at the tables, and the outcomes have been absolutely significant. In fact I would say it is world leading," he says.
The new funding will bring the number of panels from 16 to 30 over the next four years, including two set to start this month.
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